Financial Fundamentals for Historic House Museums

With this superb guidebook, Rebekah Beaulieu fills a central need for preservationists and house museums all over America. In crisp, clear prose, and using valuable case studies throughout, she walks us step-by-step through the critical but often daunting financial and organizational tasks that can help ensure a long life as a house museum, from incorporation and designation to fundraising, budgeting, and long-term strategic planning. There are roughly 15,000 house museums in the United States, and every one of them could benefit from this remarkable volume. -- Stephanie Meeks, president and CEO, National Trust for Historic Preservation
In a clear and concise manner Rebekah Beaulieu outlines all anyone needs to know about financial management and related legal requirements. The book takes you through all the necessary financial activities, from one stage to the next, using real life case studies, and a useful checklist that are essential for a sustainable and successful historic house museum. This book will be of tremendous use to staff, board members, volunteers, preservationists, and both students and faculty in museum studies programs. -- Kenneth C. Turino, Manager of Community Engagement and Exhibitions, Historic New England and adjunct faculty, museum studies, Tufts University
People who work with historic house museums typically do it because they love the collection, stories, and daily interaction with the past. But when it comes to the business of actually running a museum, well, they sometimes could use a little help. That’s where Financial Fundamentals for Historic House Museums adds to the health of the field: in providing basic, easy to understand guidance for museum folks who need to keep their mission supplied with the money and business practices required for long-term sustainability. -- Dan Yaeger, Executive Director, New England Museum Association